Tray-board



(No Model.) E. 1 CRANEQ TRAYBOARD.

No. 501,204; 4 Patented July 11, 1893'.

.zlllorney NITED STATES EDWIN FRANCIS CRANE, OF BATAVIA, NEW YORK TRAY-BOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 501,204, dated July 11, 1893. Application filed June 27, 1892. Serial No- 483,220- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN FRANCIS CRANE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Batavia, in the county of Genesee and State of New York, have invented a Tray-Board, a device for throwing and catching a ball, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to athletic sports and games, and the object of my invention is to provide means for throwing and catching a ball, without touching it by the hand, in a game, to be played outdoors or indoors according to a code of rules.

The mechanism of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the'trayboard. Fig. 2 is a side-view of the same.

Like parts are designated by corresponding letters of reference in both the figures.

The object of this invention is the production of a simple, serviceable and efficient device for catching and throwing a ball without touching the same with the hand; and it consists, essentially, in the novel and peculiar combination of parts and details of construction as hereinafter first fully set forth and described and then' pointed out in the claim.

A in the drawings represents a slender board composed of wood or other suitable material such as indurate fiber, prepared paste-board, papier mach, &c. The forward end of this tray-board A is leveled ata for the purpose hereinafter referred to.

The rear end of the tray-board is substantially semicircular and provided with a metallic guard or scoop B, having its upper edge b wired or otherwise strengthened, said scoop being attached to the edges of the board A by screws, nails or other similar fastenings b.

On the bottom side of the tray-board are provided two metallic sockets d, 01', secured to the board by suitable means, into which sockets are fastened wooden handles D D, by means of which the tray-board is manipulated in a manner hereinafter to be referred to.

In the better grades of these tray-boards I shall nickel=plate the metallic portions of the device and properly polish the wood-work thereof, but in the cheaper grades I may dispense with this plating, such changes being within the scope of my invention.

This device, which I call tray-board is designed for use in playing ball and its object is to both, catch and throw a ball, without handling the ball with the hand. In use the player takes hold of the handle I) with his or her right hand and of the handle D with the left hand, holding the board in an upwardly-pointing position at an angle of about forty to fifty degrees (more or less as the case may be) for receiving a ball. In starting a game the ball is placed into the pocket B formed by the guard or scoop B and the trayboard depressed at its forward end so as to cause the ball to. roll downward toward the forward end of the board. While the ball is thus rolling the player suddenly lifts the forward end of the board and by giving it a throwing motion gives an impetus to the ball which causes it to fly away the same as if it had been thrown by the hand. The opposite player faces the first player and holding his tray-board in an upwardly inclined position tries to catch the ball upon the board when he suddenly elevates the rear end of the tray-board and catches the ball in the pocket B. He then depresses the board and allows the ball to descend and then proceeds to deliver the same as already described.

It will now be readily observed that it requires some practice to properly catch and throw a ball, which gives the game a certain interest and which will make the game very popular.

In arranging a game of ball certain rules for throwing and catching the balls are to be followed and points allowed to, or forfeited by, the players, the score of which may be kept upon any suitable counter and in order to facilitate the playing of the game I have devised a set of rules for playing this tray-board, but such rules being empirical and not imperative, I do not deem it necessary to here describe the same. beveled the forward end of the board so that,

I have also should a ball strike the ground before "it reaches thep'layer and roll along, the gp'layer may catch it by allowing it to roll upon the tray-board, the bevel assisting in the opera- I 5 tion.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure to meby Letters Patent of the United States- An improved device for catching and th rowi I0 ing balls without handling the sameby hand,

consisting, essentially, of a long and slender boardl having oniits rear end aguard forming a pocket, and on its under side suitable handies for manipulating the device, substantially as-described.

E. FRANCIS CRANE.

Witnesses:

FRANK S. W001), ALBERT W. TYLER. 

